Clamp for rails



(No Model.)

H. K. RTTER. CLAMP FORRAILIS.

Patented May 31', 1898 improvement for securing UNrTED STATES PATENT Fries.

IIIRAM K. RITTER, OF READING, PENNSYLYANIA.

CLAMP Fon RAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,792, dated IVIay 31` 1898. Application led October 27, 1897'. Serial No. 656,603. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HIRAM K. RITTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in 'the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Clamps for Rails and the Like, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in clamps for the seeurement of railway-rails to the cross-ties when the latter are of metal and also forthe securement of structure-irons for building purposes.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and com`- bination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims. In orderthat those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how tomaleaud use the same, the construction and operation will now be described 1n detail, referringr to the accompanying drawings, forming a part -of this specification, in whicl1 v Figure 1 is a perspective ofcfaportion of a railway-rail, showing the endsV of two metal cross-ties, illustrating the application of my the rail in place; Fig. 2, a side view of the rail, showing the cross-tie in section; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the rail, showing the cross-tie in elevation and the clamps in position Fig. 4, a detail perspective of one ofthe clamps, and Fig.A 5 a perspective illustrating the application of `my .improvement to building purposes.

In carrying out my invention as here illusg trat'ed, A represents a railway-rail resting upon the cross-,ties B, ablynotched at points which fall upon the ties, as indicated at C, while the ties are notched, as indicated at D.

The clamps are made of metal plates cut and bent, as shown iu Fig. 4, so as to produce the body E, notch C and lie upon the upper surface of the flange F ofthe rail, and this clamp-plate also has formed therewith a hook G, adapted to enter into engagement with the notch D and also extend beneath the lange II of the tie. In the formation of the clamp-plate atongne I is produced by a slit severing. it from the body E, and in practice this tongue is turned -the old method.

Aplace without having to and this rail is prefer-' which is adapted to pass within the downward and forced beneath the flange F of the rail, as clearly shown in, Fig. 3. From thisit will be seen that when a clamp-plate has been placed upon each side of the rail and engaged therewith and with the tie the said rail will be held against either longitudinal or sidewise movement, so that without the use of bolts or spikes a railway-track may be laid which will be as rigid as when laid by In the application of my improvement to building purposes, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the beam 4J may be secured in place upon the beam K by the use of the clamps L, of the same construction as that above set forth; but there is no need for rnotching either of the beams, as the elamp-plates will take suiicient hold thereon to prevent accidental displacement thereof, andthe advantage of this arrangement is that when the position of any of the beams is desired to be changed the same may be accomplished without drilling holes in the flanges of theA beams, .which often requires much laborious work, whereas by my improvement the beams may be secured in consider the exact point atwhich they cross.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact arrangement here shown, as4 the details may be slightly varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. f

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful is- 1. A clamp for securing rails, dsc., in place consisting of a body, slit transversely producing two parts one ofwhich is adapted to be forced beneath the ange of one memberand the other part to overlap said flange, and a` tongue formed on said body to engage the flange of the other member, substantially as I shown and described..

2. In combination, a 'railwayrail having notches therein, cross-ties also havin g notches therein, a clamp-plate having a body for engagement with a flange of the rail and a notch therein, a hook formed upon said clamp adapted for engagement with the flange of `the tie and a notch therein, as to be forced beneath the ange of the rail, as specified.

and atongue so arranged IOO 3. The herein-described combination of two beams crossing each other, a clamp-plate consisting of a body adapted to overlap lalle flange of one of said beams, a tongue for passin g beneath said flange, and. a hook projecting ab right angles to the tongue and body adapted to engage with a flange of the other beam, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have herento affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

, HIRAM K. RITTER. Witnesses:

A. B. SCHUCKER, ANDREW GANTERT. 

